Happy Holy Day!

Ever been in a store, busy reading a label or perusing the spices, when some grungy old bugger suddenly stops right in front of you? He's completely oblivious to you--or maybe just incredibly rude! You're left standing there with 3 choices: say something and risk receiving a nasty come-back, keep quiet and stew in your anger, or choke the rude bugger until he cries uncle.

All three choices are wrong, by the way. If you indulged in any one of them, you've made a pretty bad faux pas as a believer, because it isn't until you get out to the parking lot that you even remember you're a Christian. Or at least a Christian in training. That's what I feel like when I get back out to the parking lot, anyway. It's like, oh yeah, I totally forgot all those huggy-bear parables I read in the bible about loving your neighbor . . . and stuff.

Religion (or as the new-agers prefer: spirituality) is easy when we're sitting in a pew on Sunday, listening to our pastor's inspirational GO OUT THERE AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS! speech. But out in the world, putting it into practice, well, frankly it often just slips our minds.

1 Timothy 1:5 says 'The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.' Great advice, very simple and direct. But how to put it into practice, how to recall it when the moment it is most needed arrives?

I'm sure there are any number of methods to help us recall our faith when we'd rather indulge in the flesh, and you probably know some real good 'uns, but the only one I've found that really puts me in a proper Jesus mood all (okay, most) of the time is a daily dose of the Word and a good healthy prayer life. 'Rejoice always and pray constantly' (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17). A dedication to these two simple rules will lead to a better daily Christian attitude--which God knows we need during those encounters with annoying buggers and especially at this time of year when everyone is in such a fine Christmas spirit.

Each day is holy to the Lord. Each encounter can be an opportunity to share the Word or to plant the seed of faith. We should treat each day and each encounter as gifts, even the ones that are annoying and snarky. Anyway, that's my good word for the day from the books of Timothy and Thessalonians. Take it as you will, and God bless!